Triaxis, arguably the finest metal quintet to come out of South Wales for many a year, have made huge strides since the 2009 release of debut album Keys To The Kingdom. Several well received festival slots at the likes of Bloodstock, Hammerfest and SOS have seen them rewarded with and an ever increasing fan base and plenty of positive reviews. 2012's Rage And Retribution really saw them shift up a gear in terms of songwriting and execution and there is currently a real buzz of excitement around the band for all concerned. After they delivered both an acoustic and full band electric set at Hammerfest V band members Owen (bass) and Glyn (guitars) sat down for a conversation with Sea of Tranquility.

Triaxis were the first band of the weekend to play a short acoustic set on a small stage set up in the pub. "It was a little bit uncomfortable at first" confirms Owen, "there wasn't very much room on stage and we were all quite close together. We had also only been give the guitars a few minutes before we went on so they were dropping out of tune as we were playing. But I think we did what we set out to do, we played some songs that we can really only perform acoustically and it was a nice thing do to do at that time of the day when people were still having breakfast. Overall we were pleased with how it went.

"We've done a couple of acoustic things before but this was probably the most stripped down that we have done it, we had no drums and had to take out a lot of stuff like the electric bass and slow the songs down". Glyn adds "The fact that we don't play brutal death metal means that we think some of our songs really come across well in the stripped back format."

Discussion turns to Rage & Retribution, an album that has seen the band enjoy some strong reviews. "I think it is definitely more original in terms of the material that is on there" says Glyn. Owen agrees "I was listening to the first album with brother and he would say 'you've stolen that riff from Maiden' and whilst it wasn't deliberate I'm sure that we probably had. Having Glyn also come into the band as a new lead guitarist meant he added a complete different style in terms of his input into the songwriting which has changed quite a lot of things but in particular the guitar solos. Having better production on there aswell has lifted it above the previous one. With the debut we kind of thought well we've got songs so let's make an album but this time around the whole process has been much more tactically thought out.

"We were a bit nervous before it came out because you listen to an album so many times and become very self-critical so it was pleasing when we got feedback and people are telling us they like the album after all the hard work that we had done. The next album will, of course, be even more of a challenge now and in already when we are coming up with new ideas I am thinking is that 'epic' enough to go on there".
After Hammerfest the band head off to Belgium for an appearance at the sold out Wizzfest, before coming back to the UK for a support slot in Manchester with Queensryche. "I think we are starting to get to that level now where we can confidently go out in front of more people on bigger stages" says Glyn, "with bands it is kind of like a snowballing effect; you start out small and then it gets slightly bigger and slightly even bigger and so on. And when we played the full set here earlier today we were pleased to be able to play in front of so many people – and none of them left!"

Being signed to Rocksector records Triaxis can be assured of hitting the right venues, both at home and across Europe. "They know the right places to go to and they will help develop the venue aswell" confirms Owen, "a great example of that is The Gathering over in Lincoln where I would never have expected to find such a good venue amongst all of the farmland and cabbages…it seems as if there is nothing for miles all around it and then the place itself is packed out with rock fans and they really look after you.
"Pretty much every time we go to a venue like that which is so good we say to ourselves I wish there was something like that in South Wales because we feel that is something that is lacking at the moment. Our management are also proving very good at getting their bands the right exposure on big support tours and making the right choice so hopefully when that happens for us it will be really positive."

We can expect to see and hear a lot more from Triaxis in the next twelve months – a band with a great attitude and a real passion for what they are doing. They have recently released a video for the blistering 'Black Trinity' which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZnOxKQ4NIQ and is well worth spending a few minutes checking out.

Triaxis interviewed by Dean Pedley and Mark Davies - March 2013
Live images by Rob Nankivell of Shoot! - www.shoot-plymouth.co.uk/

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